Millions of sportsmen and women and wildlife enthusiasts participate in wildlife-associated activities in Ohio each year. And fishing, hunting, and wildlife-watching aren't just recreational pastimes they are also a major contributor to Ohio's economy. The changing climate could also result in more suitable temperatures for non-native aquatic species to invade and expand their range into the Great Lakes and compete with walleye for food sources.Ĭhanges in the Earth’s climate directly threaten treasured wildlife-associated pastimes in Ohio.

As warming waters decimate cisco populations, the Lake Erie walleye population is likely to follow. One species that's particularly sensitive to these dead zones is the cisco, a major prey item for walleye. Rising temperatures could also change internal water cycling in the Great Lakes that would lead to oxygen-deficient zones (dead zones) that result in large fish kills. However, climate change now threatens this lake and the walleye it supports as Lake Erie water levels, already below average, could drop four to five feet by the end of this century, significantly altering shoreline habitat and decreasing water quality. Lake Erie is the most biologically productive of all the Great Lakes, often producing more fish for human consumption than all the other Great Lakes combined. But in Ohio, the walleye is at risk of dramatic population decline as warming lakes are decimating their prey and increasing the threat of invasive species.

The unofficial state fish of Ohio, walleye are targeted by anglers who chase these toothy predators year-round in rivers and lakes, from boats and shore, and even through the ice. One subspecies, the blue pike, is believed to be extinct.įew fish have such a strong fan base as the cool-water-loving walleye. Threats to these fish include climate change, channelization, erosion, overfishing, and degraded water quality. The walleye population is relatively stable.

Fishing planet walleye guide